Charging and discharging apparatus for gas-retorts.



J. B. HANSFORD.

CHARGING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS FOR GAS RETORTS APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1915 Patented Apr. 4., 1916.

2 SHEE T8SHEET l.

A, W A

THE CDLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. B. HANSFORD.

CHARGING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS FOR GAS RET'ORTS.

APPLICATION FILED M AR- 3 I915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (30.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

i To all whom it may concern:

JOHN BALEs rmnsronn, or new BABNET, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T0 FRANCIS JAMES BANCROFT, on NEW BARNET, ENGLAND.

CHARGING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS roe GAS-RETORTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1915. Serial No. 11,822.

Be it known that I, JOHN BALES Hans- FORD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in New Barnet, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging and Discharging Apparatus for Gas-Retorts and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates primarily to charging and discharging apparatus for gas retorts, but may also be applied to other kinds of furnaces, such as refuse destructors which retorts or furnaces are of the type having a charging door at one side and a clinkering door at the other side, the object of the invention being to provide a charging and discharging apparatus whereby the retort or furnace can be filled substantially completely in one, two or more shots or opera tions, and the coke or other residue after the distillation or other furnace operation is completed can be pushed out at the farther or discharge end of the retort or furnace.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a plan of a charging and discharging apparatus constructed according tothis invention, the

charging bed and ram head plate comprised in the apparatus being shown in the respective positions they have when all is ready for the fuel to be pushed out of the charging trough and into a retort; in Fig. 2, however, the mouth of the retort is omitted. Fig. 3 is aside view and Fig. 4 a plan of the charging bed and ram head plate in. the relative positions they are made to assume when the apparatus is to be employed for a discharging operation; in Figs. 3 and 4 the trough is not included. Fig. 5 is a section on line w-x of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on line y g of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side view showing the apparatus mounted on a wheeled trolley with suitable means for vertically adjusting and reciprocating the apparatus on the trolley. In Fig. 7 the parts of the apparatus are shown in the relative positions they have when the trough isabout to be charged with fuelprior to a charging operation.

The apparatus, as shown, is supported on a frame L mounted on avsuitable carriage or trolley M, the frame being preferably and in a suitable known manner, made adjustable vertically to enable the charging and discharging device to be brought intoalinement or register with the mouth of a retort or furnace B to be charged. The frame L may be adjustably suspended by means of the ropes P, guide pulleys Q, and Winding drum R driven by means of gearing S by motor T.

Mounted on the carriage or trolley and made so as to be adjustable with the chargmg and discharging apparatus is a trough or the like A, of known type (see Figs. 1 and 5), of a shape approximately the same as that of the mouth of the retort or furnace B to be charged. This trough is also preferably made adjustable longitudinally so that it may be moved right up against the mouth of the retort or furnace when it is to be charged. Over the trough is arranged a chute 0 connected with a fuel bin or hopper 0 carried by the carriage or trolley. An automatically operated door of known type may be provided at the bottom of the chute to cut off the coal at the right times.

Adapted to be moved longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and along that of the retort or furnace is a slideless charging bed comprising a number of plates D arranged to conform substantially with the shape of the bottom of the retort, so as to fit more or less closely thereto. This charging bed during the charging operation is pushed along the floor of the trough in any suitable manner, coal from the chute C falling on it up to approximately the level of the top of the trough A until the rear ends of the plates D come under the chute when the chute door is shut. A movable head E is mounted on the frame L above but independently of the charging bed. When the rear ends of plates D arrive under the chute, the head E, Which, during the time that the coal is being fed into the trough and upon the bed, is positioned at the rear end of the trough as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, is moved forward behind the charge into the retort simultaneously with the plates D, as hereinafter described. When the plates D with the charge have been inserted the desired distance into the retort, the plates D are withdrawn and, the head E remaining stationary in the position into which it has been advanced while the plates D are withdrawn under it, the fuel is pushed off the pendently of the rails G plates D on to the floor of the retort, practically filling it up to the top.

Any suitable means may be employed for pushing the charging bed or plates D into the furnace, for instance, a heavy butt-link chain F (shown diagrammatically) may, in known manner, be used for the purpose. In the arrangement shown, the charging bed consists of three plates D, a wide central one, and two narrow side ones with spaces between them. These plates are joined together at their front ends by aibar (Z and at their back ends by a double bridge arrangement of plates cl (see Fig. 6) forming a guide for the rails G which are attached to the head E. The rails G are made of comparatively heavy section, so so that they will normally remain in any position in which they are placed under their own weight. At their front ends they are connected with the head plate E and at their back ends-beyond the double bridge plates (Z-they are connected by the bridge plate 9. The spaces between the charging plates D are of such a width and so spaced that the plates can move longitudinally between and outside the rails G, the double bridge (Z and the plates themselves being guided by said rails G. Vhen the plates D are being pushed forward, they move indev and head E till the bridges d butt against the back of the head E, when this is moved also forward together with the rails G. Again, when the plates D are withdrawn, they slide between and outside the stationary rails G till the cross bar (Z engages the front of the rails or the head, when the plates D, the head E and the rails G all move backward together. The rails G arepreferably formed with flanges g underneath which slide the side plates I-I fixed to the bridge (Z, and to which the push chain F is attached. This prevents the end of the plates D from lifting. The plates H carry brackets it upon which are pivoted catches J. The rails G are also provided with recesses K so that, when it is desired to push forward the plates D with the head E in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, it is only necessary to turn the catches J to the position shown in these figures, when they will so move forward together. In this position the head E may be employed for discharging a retort, the head being pushed into the retort or furnace mouthlbehind the coke or other residue which is therefore discharged at the other end. The catches J may, as shown in dotted lines, also be employed for drawing back the head E and rails G together, while they have the relative positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4:

The charging bed plates D may be of any desired length, according to circumstances. They may, for instance, be equal to the whole length of the retort or furnace, in which case one charge fills the retort or furnace; or they may be made of any shorter length, in which case the retort or furnace is charged in two or more shots, the first charge being inserted into the far end of the retort or furnace, and the subsequent charges being'inserted one behind the other, till the retort or furnace is full. WVhen a suitable indicator is employed, this can be done without compressing or 3' mmmg the charge in any way, a point which it is neces sary to observe in gas retort charging. When the fuel is one which expands in the retort on heating, the plates D may be suitably raised above the floor of the retort or compensation for any such expansion can be made during the operation of charging by not filling the trough completely to its to The discharging head E is preferably fitted with. a hood or curved flange 6 around its upper edge, to prevent the coal or coke rising over the plate under the pressure or thrust to which it may be subjected. Further, there may extend rearwardly from the highest point of the discharging head E, so as to be contiguous with the roof of the retort, an arm 0 adapted to prevent the head tilting or rising off the floor of the retort as it is moved in or out.

In connection with vertical retorts it has been proposed to employ at the base of the retort a discharging ram having a cutter in front of the head adapted to facilitate the removal of the coke from the bottom of. the retort, but such an arrangement has a diiferent purpose and from that herein described.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same intoclaim 1. A charging and discharging apparatus for retorts, furnaces, and the like mounted on a suitable trolley and comprising a fuel hopper, a chute connected with the hopper, a horizontally adjustable trough of approximately'the same height and width as-the mouth of the forwardly directed retort or furnace to be charged, a sideless charging bed mounted to move longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and thebottom of the retort or furnace, a ram head plate movably mounted above the charging bed, a device for reciprocating the charging bed independently of the head plate, and means carried by the charging bed for reciprocating the head plate simultaneously with the bed during a portion of each of its strokes, as and for the purpose described.

2. A charging and discharging apparatus for retorts, furnaces and the like mounted on a suitable trolley and comprising a fuel hopper, a chute connected with the hopper,

is entirely distinct practical effect, I

a horizontally adjustable trough of approximately the same height and width as the mouth of the forwardly directed retort or furnace to be charged, a sideless charging bed adapted to move longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and the bottom of the retort or furnace, a ram head plate movably mounted above the charging bed, a device for reciprocating the charging bed independently of the head plate, means carried by the charging bed for reciprocating the head plate simultaneously with the bed during a portion of each of its strokes, and means for operatively connecting said reciprocating device at will with the said head plate, whereby the head plate will move together with the charging bed during the whole of the latters stroke, as and for the purpose described.

A charging and discharging apparatus for retorts, furnaces and the like mounted on a suitable trolley and comprising a fuel hopper, a chute connected with the hopper, a horizontally adjustable trough of approximately the same height and width as the mouth of the forwardly directed retort or furnace to be charged, a sideless charging bed adapted to move longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and the bottom of the retort or furnace, a ram head plate movably mounted above the charging bed, said head plate having rearwardly directed heavy extensions, a device for reciprocating the charging bed independently of the head plate, means carried by the charging bed for reciprocating the head plate simultaneously with the bed during a portion of each of its strokes, and catches adjustably mounted on said reciprocating device and adapted to engage with said heavy extensions and there- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the by move the head plate together with the charging bed when the latter is shifted by the reciprocating device, substantially as described.

4. A charging and discharging apparatus for retorts, furnaces and the like mounted on a suitable trolley and comprising a fuel hopper, a chute connected with the hopper, a horizontally adjustable trough of approximately the same height and width as the mouth of the forwardly directed retort or furnace to be charged, a sideless charging bed adapted to move longitudinally along the bottom of the trough and the bottom of the retort or furnace, a ram head plate movably mounted above the charging bed, a device for reciprocating the charging bed in-- dependently of the head plate, means carried by the charging bed for reciprocating the head plate simultaneously with the bed during a portion of each of its strokes, means for operatively connecting said reciprocating device at will with the said head plate, whereby the head plate will move together with the charging bed during the whole of the latters stroke, and means for controlling the position of the head plate, said means comprising an arm extending rearwardly from the head plate and adapted to contact with the underside of the roof during the travel of the head plate therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BALES HANSFORD.

Witnesses:

Josnrn: MILLARD, WVALTER J. SKERTEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

